Storage tray for thin dies

ABSTRACT

Disclosed as a storage tray for dies including a base portion that has a plurality of slots adapted to receive the dies, a cover portion adapted to be rotatably coupled to the base portion at the rear of the base portion, a hinge groove formed at the rear of the base portion, a hinge boss formed at the rear of the cover portion, wherein the hinge boss is adapted to engage the hinge groove and the hinge boss and the hinge groove form a hinge and the hinge cover is coupled to the hinge portion.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/488,512 (Attorney Docket No. 021919-001400US) filed Jul. 17, 2003 and is herein incorporated by reference for all purposes.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to storage devices and more particularly pertains to a new storage tray for transporting, storing, and presenting dies used for die cutting and embossing applications.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Common die-cutting devices and the associated dies allow crafters to enhance scrapbook pages, greeting cards and more, right in the convenience of their homes. Using a typical die-cutter, a piece of material is placed on a cutting form that has sharp edges protruding from its surface. By pressing the piece of material against the cutting form or die with enough force, the sharp edges of the die cut through the material to create various shapes, depending on the shape of the die. The dies may also be used for embossing. A user of such a die cutting press may have several differently shaped dies to choose from to make various fanciful shapes.

As a user's collection of dies increases, it is cumbersome for the user to organize, store, and transport the user's collection of dies. Many users store the dies in boxes or envelopes which does not keep the dies organized, nor protects the dies from normal wear and tear and damage.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure provides a storage tray for dies. The storage tray also may be used for storing thin dies, such as chemical etched dies. The storage tray disclosed is a storage tray for dies including a base portion that has a plurality of slots adapted to receive the dies, a cover portion adapted to be rotatably and releasably coupled to the base portion at the rear of the base portion, a hinge groove is formed at the rear of the base portion, a hinge boss is formed at the rear of the cover portion, wherein the hinge boss is adapted to engage the hinge groove and the hinge boss and the hinge groove form a hinge, and the hinge cover is coupled to the hinge portion.

In one embodiment, the cover portion has a top surface and the top surface has debossed regions configured to receive a bottom potion of the base portion, when the cover portion is removed from and located under the base portion.

In one embodiment, the storage tray also has a latch mechanism located on a front portion of the base portion, and a slot located on a front portion of the cover, where the slot is configured to receive the latch mechanism, so as to positively close the cover portion in a closed position. In one aspect, the storage tray also includes a spring biased pin configured to help open the cover portion when the latches are released from the cover portion.

In one embodiment, the storage tray's cover portion includes a foam section adhered to an inside surface of the cover portion, so as to hold any dies located on any of the slots in place when the cover portion is in a closed position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure will now be described in greater detail with reference to the preferred embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which like elements bear like reference numerals, and wherein:

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of the storage tray in accordance with the present disclosure shown with the cover in a partially open position;

FIGS. 2A-B show the storage tray of FIG. 1 with the cover portion in the partially open position;

FIG. 3 shows the storage tray of FIG. 1 with the cover portion removed and set adjacent to the base portion;

FIG. 4 shows the storage tray of FIG. 1 with the cover portion removed and located under the base portion, the base portion shown in a stacked configuration resting on top of the cover portion;

FIGS. 5A-E illustrate one exemplary embodiment of the storage tray of the present disclosure, with FIG. 5A illustrating a top view of the storage tray; FIG. 5B illustrating a bottom view of the storage tray; FIG. 5C illustrating a left-side view of the storage tray; FIG. 5D illustrating a perspective view of the storage tray; FIG. 5E illustrating a front view of the storage tray;

FIGS. 6A-G illustrate one exemplary embodiment of the base portion of the storage tray; FIG. 6A illustrating a top view of the base portion of the storage tray; FIG. 6B illustrating a cross-sectional side view taken from line 6B-6B from 6A; FIG. 6C illustrating a left-side view of the base portion of the storage tray, FIG. 6D illustrating a back view of the base portion of the storage tray; FIG. 6E illustrating a front view of the base portion of the storage tray; FIG. 6F illustrating an alternative groove to that shown in FIG. 6C; FIG. 6G illustrating an alternative groove to that shown in FIG. 6C;

FIGS. 7A-E illustrate one exemplary embodiment of the cover portion of the storage tray; FIG. 7A illustrates a left-hand side view of the cover portion of the storage tray; FIG. 7B illustrates a top view of the cover portion of the storage tray; FIG. 7C is a cross-sectional view taken from line 7C-7C from FIG. 7A; FIG. 7D illustrates a front view of the cover portion of the storage tray; FIG. 7E illustrates a back view of the cover portion of the storage tray;

FIG. 8 illustrates a right-hand side perspective view of the storage tray with the cover portion in a closed position relative to the base portion;

FIG. 9 illustrates a front perspective view of the storage tray with the cover portion in a closed position relative to the base portion;

FIG. 10 illustrates a rear perspective view of the storage tray with the cover portion in a closed position relative to the base portion;

FIG. 11 illustrates a front perspective view of the base portion of the storage tray in a close-up of an exemplary embodiment of the latching mechanism of the storage tray; and

FIG. 12 illustrates a cross-sectional view of one component of the latching mechanism shown in FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

Disclosed is a storage tray for storing dies, particularly thin dies otherwise known as chemical etched dies. The chemical etched dies have a plastic backing on one side and an ejection foam on the opposite side.

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of the storage tray 100 in accordance with the present disclosure shown with the cover in a partially open position. This figure shows that the storage tray 100 includes a base portion 102 and a cover portion 104. The base portion 102 includes a handle 106. Likewise, the cover portion 104 includes a cover portion handle 107. Also shown are several dies 108 that are used for die cutting, arranged in the base portion 102. It will be appreciated that even though thin dies are illustrated in the Figures, the storage tray disclosed herein may store thicker dies, such as steel rule dies, therefore, the storage tray disclosed and claimed herein is not limited to storing thin dies. A plurality of slots are located in the base portion 102 and the plurality of slots are configured to receive the dies 108. Thin dies typically have a thickness of ⅛ inch to {fraction (3/16)} inch. Nevertheless, as described above, the dies stored in the storage tray and the corresponding slots housing the dies may be of any thickness. A typical slot 202 is shown FIG. 3 and further is shown in FIG. 4 as well as FIG. 6B. The slots 202 in the base portion 102 are sized to be wider than the thickness of the dies 108, so as to enable the dies 108 to be tipped back and forth to allow the user a better view of each die 108 as the user scrolls through the dies with the user's fingers when in search of a particular die 108. Typically, the dies include some indicia on the front side facing the user and the dies 108 are arranged in a particular way so that the indicia are exposed to the user as the user flips through the dies 108.

A hinge 114 enables the motion of the cover portion 104 with respect to the base portion 102. That is to say, when the user opens the storage tray and lifts the cover portion 104 relative to the base portion 102, the cover portion 104 pivots about a hinge 114. As is shown in FIGS. 6C and 7C, and as further described below, the hinge 114 comprises a hinged groove 602 and a boss 702. Further, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the hinge 114 includes a pair of hinge grooves 602 with corresponding hinge bosses 702. The grooves and the bosses cooperate so that the cover portion 104 is rotatable relative to the base portion 102.

Although any hinge configuration that allows the cover portion 104 to rotate relative to the base portion 102 would be suitable, in one embodiment disclosed herein, the hinge allows the cover portion 104 to be separated from the base portion 102 if desired by the user. The hinge groove 602, in this embodiment, includes a radiused end 603 that enables the cover portion 104 to stay in place when the cover portion is fully opened relative to the base portion 102. A groove 602 is configured to receive the boss 702, as shown in FIG. 7C. When the cover portion 104 is in the fully open position relative to the base portion 102, the bosses 702 rest in the radiused portions 603, with the cover portion 104 still attached to the base portion 104. The user then may lift the cover portion 104 away from the base portion 102 and the direction of the groove 602 to separate the cover portion 104 from the base portion 102. As shown in FIG. 6C, groove 602 may be angled in such a way, such as downward and inward relative to the rear and bottom of the base portion 102 so that gravity maintains the cover portion 104 in place and connected to the base portion, and more particularly the bosses 702 in a resting position in the radiused ends 603. As will be described in further detail below, the orientation of the grooves 602 may take a number of configurations to achieve the same result.

A locking or latching mechanism 112 is located on the base portion 102 which engages slots or openings 113 in the cover portion to positively close the cover portion 104 when closed. This allows the user to carry the storage tray 100 by the handles 106 and 107 without fear of the cover portion 104 becoming disengaged from the base portion 102. When the latch mechanism 112 is activated and the cover portion 104 is locked in the closed position relative to the base portion 102, the bosses 702 are resting in the groove radiused ends 603.

In one embodiment, buttons or protrusions 109 connected to and extending from the latch mechanism 112 are configured so that a user may press the protrusions or buttons inward using the user's thumb and index fingers simultaneously to cause the latch mechanism to disengage the slots 113 in the cover portion 104.

In one embodiment, the base portion 102 as well as the cover portion 104 are each manufactured utilizing plastic material. The cover portion 104 may be made from a clear plastic to allow for convenient viewing of the dies 108 through the cover portion 104, when the cover portion 104 is in the closed position.

FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate the storage tray 100 of the present disclosure with the cover portion 104 in the fully open position, with the bosses 702 resting in the radiused ends 603. The dies 108 are angled while resting in the base portion 102 by providing a slot 202 that is approximately twice the width of the die 108, with the depth of the slot 202 being approximately one to two times the dimension of the width of the slot. The dies are resting at an appropriate angle so that when the dies 108 are placed in the base portion 102, the dies may be quickly and visually reviewed by the user. FIG. 2 also illustrates that the cover portion 104 has a resilient layer 110 that is adhered or located to the inside top cover of the cover portion 104. The resilient layer may be made of any material that is resilient, such as foam, open cell foam, or closed cell foam. The resilient layer 110 helps to maintain the dies 108 in place in the slots 202 by the resilient layer 110 contacting the dies 108 when the cover portion 104 is in a closed position. The resilient layer 110 may be adhered to the inside top cover by an adhesive, such as double-sided adhesive tape. The resilient layer 110 in addition, provides resistance between the top of the dies 108 and the cover portion 104 by being slightly compressed when the cover is closed, and so that when the latch mechanism 112 is unlatched relative to the cover portion 104, the cover portion 104 springs to a slightly open position as the resilient layer 110 decompresses.

FIG. 3 illustrates the storage tray 100 of the present disclosure with the cover portion 104 removed from the base portion 102, with the cover portion 104 placed along the side of the base portion 102. The boss 702 and grooves 602 in 603 arrangement of the hinge 114, all of which are described above, enables the convenient removal of the cover portion 104 from the base portion 102. In addition to being removable, the cover portion 104 is configured to be located or positioned under the base portion 102, as shown in FIG. 4, thus allowing for a stacked arrangement between the portions. This allows for the base portion 102 and the dies 108 to be raised from the working surface that the cover portion 104 is resting upon. As shown in FIG. 7B, the cover portion 104 includes cover portion recesses 506 which mate with protrusions 508. Multiple units may be stacked upon each other with the cover portions off and located under the base portions.

FIGS. 5A-E illustrate one exemplary embodiment of the storage tray according to the present disclosure showing various details. FIG. 5D illustrates an isometric view of an exemplary storage tray 100 in a closed position. An exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 5D, the cover portion 504 is made of a clear plastic material, such as PVC, and the base portion 502 is made of an Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (“ABS”) plastic material. FIG. 5A illustrates a top view of the storage tray shown in FIG. 5D. FIG. 5A illustrates the cover portion 504 includes debossed regions or recesses 506 for mating with the bottom surface of the base portion 502. FIG. 5B illustrates a bottom view of the storage tray shown in FIG. 5D. FIG. 5B illustrates that the bottom of the base portion includes protrusions or feet 508 that mate with the debossed regions or recesses 506 and the cover portion 504 is placed under the base portion 502. The combination of the debossed regions or recesses 506 in the feet or protrusions 508 ensure a stable stacked arrangement when the base portion 102 is stacked on top of the cover portion 104 by minimizing the slipping potential at the base portion 102 with respect to the cover portion 104. In the alternative, the feet or protrusions 508 may be made of a soft rubber material to enhance the stability of the placement of the base portion 502 on to the cover portion 504. FIGS. 5C and 5E illustrate a left side and front view respectively of the storage tray illustrated in FIG. 5D. A plurality of ribs 208 are located under the base portion 102 to add rigidity to the base portion 102 and to the storage tray assembly 100. This allows for less plastic material to be utilized during the manufacturing process of the base portion 102 and allows for the base portion 102 to be injected molded. FIG. 5D also illustrates a debossed surface 210 located on the outer top surface of the cover portion 104 to allow for a label 212 as shown in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 6A-E illustrate one exemplary embodiment of the storage tray base portion. The base portion 502 includes a hinge groove 602 shown in FIG. 6C, as described above. FIG. 6A illustrates a top view that shows the base portion 502 and a plurality of slots 510 that are configured to receive the dies. FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view taken from 6B-6B from FIG. 6A illustrating slots 510. FIG. 6D illustrates a rear-view of the base portion 502. FIG. 6E illustrates a front view of the base portion 502. FIGS. 6F and 6G illustrate alternative embodiments for the groove 602 and the recessed ends 603. In FIG. 6F, the groove 602 is shown generally perpendicular to the horizontal axis so that the cover portion 104 may be lifted in a plane that is perpendicular to the base portion. In FIG. 6G the groove 602 is oriented downward and inward toward the bottom of the base portion. In this embodiment, the cover portion 104 would be lifted upward and rearwardly relative to the base portion.

FIGS. 7A-E illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the storage tray cover portion showing various details including the hinge bosses 702 as shown in FIG. 7C, and as described above. FIG. 7A illustrates a side view of the cover portion. FIG. 7B illustrates a top view of the cover portion and illustrates the debossed or recessed regions 506. Line 7C-7C is taken from FIG. 7A which illustrates the opposing bosses 702, which mate with the hinge grooves 602, respectively. FIG. 7D illustrates a front view of the cover portion, and FIG. 7E illustrates a rear view of the cover portion.

FIG. 8 illustrates a side perspective view of the storage tray of the present disclosure, with the cover portion shown in the closed and locked position relative to the base portion.

FIG. 9 illustrates a front perspective view of the storage tray with the cover portion in a closed position relative to the base portion.

FIG. 10 illustrates a rear perspective view of the storage tray with the cover portion in a closed position relative to the base portion.

FIG. 11 illustrates a front perspective view of the base portion of the storage tray in a close-up of an exemplary embodiment of the latching mechanism of the storage tray. The latch mechanism is illustrated as a first hook portion 302 and an opposing second hook portion 304 with a protrusion 109 shown protruding from the first hook portion 302 and from the base portion 102. As explained above, the first and second hook portions 302 latch with corresponding openings 113 in the cover portion.

FIG. 12 illustrates a latch mechanism 112 with a hook 302 and with the protrusion 109 shown connected to the hook portion 302. The latch mechanism is shown housed in base portion 102 with an opening 306 which houses a spring 308 to bias the latch mechanism 112 to the locked position, and while protruding the protrusion 109 from the base portion 102.

In one alternative embodiment, the hinge 114 may also be spring biased (not shown) by using a coiled spring to help open the cover portion 104 when the latch mechanism 112 is released from the cover portion 104. Alternatively, a spring loaded pin located on either the base portion 102 or the cover portion 104 may be used to help open the cover portion 104 when the latch mechanism is released from the cover portion 104.

Therefore disclosed is a storage tray for dies including a base portion having a plurality of slots adapted to receive the dies. The cover portion is adapted to be rotatively coupled to and removably coupled from the base portion at the rear of the base portion. A hinge comprising grooves and bosses are formed at the rear of the base and cover portions to accommodate the rotatively and removably coupling relationship between the cover portion and the base portion.

As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the present disclosure may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the essential characteristics thereof. For example, the base portion may include any number of inside slots for holding the dies; the case and its components may be made of any material suitable for the purpose of carrying accessories such as dies for die cutting applications. These other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure, which is set forth in the following proposed claims. 

1. A storage tray for dies, comprising: a base portion having a plurality of slots configured to receive the dies; and a cover portion, coupled to the base portion.
 2. The storage tray of claim 1 wherein the cover portion is removably coupled to the base portion at a rear portion of the base portion.
 3. The storage tray of claim 2 wherein the cover portion is hingedly coupled to the base portion.
 4. The storage tray of claim 3 wherein the base portion includes a hinge groove at the rear portion of the base portion.
 5. The storage tray of claim 4 wherein the cover portion includes a hinge boss at the rear of the cover portion and the hinge boss is adapted to engage the hinge groove with the hinge boss and the hinge groove forming a hinge when the cover is removably coupled to the base portion.
 6. A storage tray for dies, comprising: a base portion having a plurality of slots adapted to receive the dies; a cover portion adapted to be rotatably coupled to the base portion at the rear of the base portion; a hinge groove formed at the rear of the base portion; a hinge boss formed at the rear of the cover portion, the hinge boss adapted to engage the hinge groove to form a hinge when the cover is coupled to the base portion.
 7. The storage tray of claim 6, wherein the cover portion comprises a top surface and the top surface includes a debossed region configured to receive a bottom portion of the base portion when the cover portion is removed from the base portion and located under the base portion in a stacked configuration.
 8. The storage tray of claim 6, further comprising: a latch mechanism located on a front portion of the base portion, and a slot located on a front portion of the cover portion, the slot configured to receive the latch mechanism so as to positively close the cover portion in a closed position.
 9. The storage tray of claim 8, further comprising: a resilient material located inside of the cover portion so as to provide a lifting action to the cover portion when the cover portion is released from the latch mechanism.
 10. The storage tray of claim 8, further comprising a spring means to help open the cover portion when the latches are released from the cover portion.
 11. The storage tray of claim 6, wherein the cover portion further includes a foam section adhered to an inside surface of the cover portion so as to hold any dies located in any of the slots in place when the cover portion is in the closed position.
 12. The storage tray of claim 6, wherein the cover portion is adapted to be rotatably and releasably coupled to the base portion at the rear of the base portion.
 13. The storage tray of claim 7, wherein the bottom portion of the base portion includes protrusions that rest in the corresponding debossed regions in the top surface.
 14. A storage tray for storing dies, comprising: a base portion having a plurality of slots configured to receive dies; a cover portion that is rotatably coupled to the base portion; and the cover portion having a foam section located in an inside surface of the cover portion so as to hold any dies located in any of the slots in place when the cover portion is in a closed position.
 15. The storage tray of claim 14, wherein the cover portion is removable from the base portion.
 16. The storage tray of claim 15, wherein the cover portion is optionally removable or not from the base portion.
 17. The storage tray of claim 15, wherein the base portion and the cover portion combine to comprise a hinge at the rear of the cover and base portions.
 18. The storage tray of claim 17, further comprising: a latch mechanism located at the front of the base portion in a slot located at the front of the cover portion, the slot configured to receive the latch mechanism so as to positively close the cover portion in a closed position.
 19. The storage tray of claim 18, wherein the foam section located inside of the cover portion provides a lifting action to the cover portion when the cover portion is released from the latch mechanism.
 20. The storage tray of claim 19, wherein the latch mechanism comprises two opposing spring loaded hooks located in the base portion which mate with corresponding recesses located in the cover portion.
 21. The storage tray of claim 20, wherein the latch mechanism further comprises depressable protrusions extending from the base portion, wherein the buttons are connected to the spring loaded hooks. 